Section 2: The learner driver they learn to drive a car, a truck or a bus, or ride a motorcycle.
Conditions for learner permit holders
When you are a learner driver you must, in addition to answering yes to the questions on pages 24–25, comply with the following conditions:
1) Accompanied when driving
A holder of a learner permit for categories B, BE, C, C1, C1E, CE, D, D1, D1E and DE must be accompanied and supervised at all times by a qualified driver. A qualified driver is a person who has held a full driving licence in the same category for a continuous period of 2 years. A learner driver detected of driving unaccompanied faces a €160 fine and two penalty points if paid within 28 days, a €240 fine and two penalty points if paid within the next 28 days and €240 and four penalty points if convicted in court.
If you hold a learner permit for category AM, A1, A2 and A does not need to be accompanied by a qualified driver. However, you cannot drive a vehicle in this category unsupervised by your Initial Basic Training (IBT) instructor until you have completed the IBT for your relevant category and type of motorcycle.
A vehicle being driven by an unaccompanied learner driver can be seized by Gardaí.
The owner of a vehicle who allows an unaccompanied learner or
unlicensed driver to drive their vehicle is liable to have their vehicle seized by the Gardaí and could face a fine of up to €1,000.
A lower threshold of penalty points leading to disqualification will apply to any driver who is granted their first learner permit on or after 1 August 2014 while they drive under a learner permit, and subsequently during the first two years while they drive under their first full driving licence.